Teeter-totter



M S. GOWING TEETER-TOTTER Feb. 12, 1957 Filed March 3, 1954 0 Qm 0 3 a 3f 6 4 m W 2 z fl 8] z a r" i W INVENTOR.

Mary/37 J. Gor /n5 Unit 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-30) This invention relates tonew and useful improvements and structural refinements in teeter-tottersor similar amusement devices which are also commonly known as see-saws,and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of thistype which is simple in construction, durable in use and which readilylends itself to convenient and economical manufacture.

More specifically, the invention concerns itself with that type of ateeter-totter wherein the customary beam or board is rockable as well asrotatable about its supporting member, whereby the device combines thefunctions of a teeter-totter with those of a merry-go-round.

As is well known, devices of this nature usually embody in theirconstruction some form of a support member, commonly an upright posthaving its lower end portion embedded in the ground, a mounting headwhich is rockably and rotatably positioned at the upper end of such apost, and a beam or board carried by and rockable as Well as rotatablewith the mounting head.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of whatmay be called a ball and socket connection between the mounting head andits supporting post, whereby the desired movements of the beam areefliciently facilitated. However, inasmuch as a ball and socketconnection of this nature would also permit lateral tipping or rockingof the beam, that is, tipping or rocking in a plane transverse to itslongitudinal axis, another feature of the invention resides in theprovision of means for permitting rocking of the beam in the plane ofits longitudinal axis only.

As is also known, it a common expedient in devices of this type toadjust the beam longitudinally with respect to its mounting head,whereby the balance of the beam may be varied in accordance with theweight of difierent persons such as may occupy the seats with which theends of the beam are usually equipped. In this respect, another featureof the invention resides in the provision of novel means for engagingand frictionally clamping the beam in a pre-adjusted position in themounting head, the arangement being such that the beam may be quicklyand easily shifted when so desired, to eifect the required amount ofbalance or unbalance, as the case may be.

Inasmuch as the required adjustability of the beam with respect to themounting head eliminates the possibility of rigid securing means betweenthe two, a further feature of the invention resides in the arrangementof the beam clamping means so that the beam cannot be separated from thehead by unauthorizec persons.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the structure of themounting head per se, the same being formed from two similar andcomplemental half-sections which are separably connected together so asto facilitate convenient and expeditious installation or removal thereofon or from the ball of the supporting post member.

With the above more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention re sides in the details of construction andarrangement of Z,78l,l93 Patented Feb. 12, 1957 parts as shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designatelike components and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially in the plane of the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the support member,mounting head, clamping plate and beam, the clamping plate being shownwithout its fastening means and in a fully open position while the beamis shown by dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the mounting head with theclamping plate closed and the beam shown in section; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating one of the half-sections ofthe mounting head, together with its associated guide.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings in detail, theteeter-totter is designated generally by the numeral 10 and embodies inits construction an upright support member such as a post 12 which hasits lower end portion embedded in a suitable foundation 14 in theground, while the upper end of the post is provided with a ball 16.

A mounting head 18 is formed with a socket 263 having the ball 16disposed therein, so that the mounting head may rock as well as rotatewith respect to the post 12. To facilitate assembly, the head 18 iscomposed of two similar, complemental half-sections 18a and ltlb havingabutting faces 18c disposed in a plane which bisects the socket 20. Thetwo half-sections, of the head are held assembled by means of aplurality of dowel pins 22 pressed in registering bores 24 with whichthe half-sectionsv are equipped.

The upper portion ofthe head 18 is provided with an open-ended channelor recess 26 which has slidably positioned therein an intermediateportion of a beam or board 28. The ends of this beamor board areprovided with suitable seats 30, including handle bars 30a.

The beam 28, of course, is rotatable as well as rockable with themounting head 18 on the ball 16 of the post 12. The ball and socketconnection which is provided would ordinarily permit the beam to rock inall directions, but the invention provides means for permitting the beamto rock in one direction only, that is, in the plane of its longitudinalaxis. These means consist of a pair of transversely spaced guides 32which are disposed at the underside of the head 18 and are engageablewith opposite sides of the post 12, whereby the beam is prevented fromlateral rocking or tipping. Each of the guides 32 is formed integrallywith one of the two halfsections of the head and underlies the otherhalf-section without being secured to the latter, whereby the twohalf-sections may be separated when so desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by virtue of the slidablepositioning of the beam 28 in the channel 26, the beam may be adjustedlongitudinally with respect to the head 18, so that the balance of thebeam may be varied in accordance with the weight of different personsoccupying the seats 3%. However, means are provided for frictiouallyclamping the beam in a pre-adjusted position in the head, these meansconsisting of a clamping plate 34 which is connected by hinges as to thehead 18 at one side of the channel 25, While a fastener device 38connects the plate 34 to the head at the other side of the channel. Theplate is provided at the underside thereof with a resilient pad 41 tofrictionally engage the beam when the fastener 38 is in its closedposition as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The fastener device 38 is of an expansible type and consists of a pairof brackets 42, 44 secured to the plate 34 and the head 18 respectively.

pivotedat 48 to the bracket 42 and is also pivoted at 59 to a secondtoggle link 52 which, in turn, is pivoted-to the bracket 44 at 54. Thelink 46 is provided with a finger-piece 56 and when the fastener isclosed, the toggle links 46 52 are so disposed that the plate 34 issecurely held in its clamping position. However, by simply. grasping thefinger-piece 56 and pulling the toggle link 46 outwardly as shown by thedotted lines 38a in Figure 4, the clamping plate 34 will be swungupwardly on its hinges 36 to facilitate adjustment of the beam 23 in thechannel 26 of the head 18. i

It is to be particularly noted that the length of the toggle links 46, 52 issuch that the clamping plate 34 cannot be fully opened, in otherwords, the toggle links at all times connect the 'free end-of the plateto the head 18. This arrangement is coordinated with the seats 30 andhandle bars 30a at the ends of thesbeam 23, which seats and handle barsare "of such size that they cannot pass through the channel 26 even whenthe clamping plate'34 is released. In thisdmanner, the beam will beprevented from being separated from the mounting head by unauthorizedpersons.

Finally, it will be observed that one of the half-sections of the head18 is provided with a bore 58 which extends outwardly from the socket 20and is fitted in its outer end with a nipple 60, whereby lubricant maybe injected into the socket to assure free movement ofthe head on theball 16.

Although in the foregoing there has been shown and described thepreferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the spirit and scope of theinvention, but various modifications may be resorted to, such as may liewithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new'is: r V, r

1. In a teeter-tottenthe combination of a ball-shaped support member, abox-like head rotatably and rockably positioned on said support member,said head being provided with a channel-shaped recesshaving an open topand open ends, a beam extending through and adjustable longitudinally insaid recess, said beam having a flat upper surface substantiallycoplanar with the upper surface of said head, a clamping plate hinged atone side thereof to said head at one side of said recess and ex- Atoggle link 46 is.

tending transversely across the open top of the latter, and meansprovided at the relatively oppositerside of said plate for releasablyfastening the same to the head, said plate having a flat undersurface infrictional engagement with the upper surface of said beam, whereby toprevent the beam from shifting longitudinally in said recess when theplate is held in its clamping position by the fastening means.

'2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forreleasably fastening said plate to said head comprises a quick-actingclamp including upper and lower brackets secured to said plate and tosaid head respectively, a pair oftoggle links pivoted to the respectivebrackets and pivotally connected together, said toggle links beingswingable from a locked position adjacent said head laterally outwardlyto an unlocked position wherein said plate is simultaneously raised outof frictional engagement with said beam, and a finger-piece provided onone of said links. a

3. In a teeter-totter, the combination of a support member including anupright post and a, substantially spherical ball thereon, a box-likemounting head rotatably and rockably positioned on said support memberand formed in its' lower portion with a substantially ReferencesCited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,992 WrightJan. 29, 1901 818,079 Dickson Apr. 17, 1906 956,496 Miller Apr. 26, 19101,689,520 Dickson Apr. 30, 1928' 1,746,260 Kenney Feb. 11,1930 BouchardAug. 14, 1951 mini. a

